I am watching a show on Channel 4 as I write called “Saving Africa’s Witch Children” (see write up in The Telegraph), it is really saddening to see that people are killing and abusing children in Nigeria in the name of Jesus. This is not really christianity, it is African witch doctors re-invented.
They say they are representing Jesus, but I never saw Jesus ever beat anyone to cast out a devil. Neither did I ever see Jesus start to charge people to be ‘delivered’. The real witches are those who are doing the torture and abuse, it makes me sick. I am ashamed of these people, I am ashamed that these people are hijaking the name christian when they are really demons from hell themself. Moreover, I am sad that the Dispatches program has linked these groups with ‘Pentecostalism’, my God, the orgins of the Pentecostal movement is not about this. It is about reaching the world for Christ by showing love, sharing, having all things common. The early Pentecostal pioneers would be turning in their graves, just as I am fuming that these Nigerian witch doctors are hijacking the good name ‘Pentecostal’. More reason for Oneness Apostolics to differentiate themselves as ‘Apostolics’, too many people claim to be ‘Pentecostal’ these days and it has just become a euphemisim for lunatic in the eyes of the unchurched.
One of the women who is to blame according to Channel 4 is a ‘prophetess’/'evangelist’ called Helen Ukpabio (read a related blog about here) , she made a horror film–yes a horror film–to evangelise and educate people about the dangers of witch children. This film has led to superstitious ignorant people fearing children and even killing, beating and torturing them. Her church is called ‘Liberty Foundation Gospel Ministries’ someone needs to shut them down and lock her up, I don’t know what kind of spirit she is operating under, but it is not right. Who does she report to? Who is her covering?
What is ironic is that in her testimony Helen Ukpabio tells that she herself was a child witch initiated at age 14 and ‘delivered’ at 17. Shame the blogger writing about her calls her ’saver of souls’, I am upset that someone who is causing such havoc could be deemed a saviour.
Helen Ukpabio is the one exception where I would say that we should re-introduce Paul’s teaching to the Corinthian women who were causing a stir: “I suffer not a woman to teach”.
Honestly, I am gobsmaked that this kind of backward practises are taking place in Africa. It makes me wonder if some of the same crazy things are taking place in African churches in London? Is this brand of religion being imported into the UK? You can not mix the gospel of Jesus Christ with African superstitions and paganity.
Channel 4 had a number at the end of the show for people to call if they want to know what they can do to help stop this abuse, I am going to call it, please can you do the same…08456 041 444. You can also take more direct action by donating and reading more at the JustGiving blog or the donor page on JustGiving.co.uk of the Charity working to save Africa’s children ‘Stepping Stone Nigeria’.
SSN is a grassroots child rights charity working to protect, save and transform the lives of vulnerable children in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. It works with local partners on some of the most challenging issues that children face such as child trafficking and the abandonment and torture of so-called child “witches”.
The charities aim is to raise £10,000 to help their work, so please do visit and donate something if it is even £1 to save a child’s life.
Posted by Ian on November 13, 2008 at 1:49 am
You may be offended by linking it with Pentacostalism, but personally this kind of insanity seems to flow naturally from it. When you encourage hysteria and the suspension of rational thought what do you expect?
Posted by Anonymous on November 13, 2008 at 10:36 am
It was a distressing documentary. These are the times when we will witness false prophets manipulating the masses through superstition and idolatry- all in the name of Jesus.
“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.”
Posted by michelle on November 13, 2008 at 1:38 pm
I absoloutly agree with this blog above, I was horrified to watch this programme last night. This womans so called Christian beliefs have made be seethe with anger…..why cant the government do something about her….she is manipulating money out of poor people who have not got the education and socialisation to see her for the fraud she is!!!!
Well done to those at CRARN and SteppingStones, thank God for people like you.
Posted by Horrified Christian on November 13, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Thank you for this excellent comment on channel 4 documentary. I had no idea that this could happen today. This has certainly led me to pray and act. I thank God that it has been highlighted and we have been given directions how we can help in a small way.
Posted by Horrified Christian on November 13, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Thank you
Posted by Horrified Christian on November 13, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Thank you
This is my comment
Posted by Rachel on November 13, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Killing a Witch is bad enough but killing children who are believed to be Witches is disgusting
Posted by Niki Miracle on November 13, 2008 at 2:38 pm
i was horrofied, just see that made my heartache. i dont normally write to these sort of things but i felt oblieged to write and do something. i am young and i believe in the meaning of God but what they was doing in the name of God was disgusting and i am currently looking for an organisation to join to bring an end to this.
Posted by CC on November 13, 2008 at 5:58 pm
I havent been able to stop thinking about all them poor innocent children. The fear in their little faces. Was happy to see little Mary smiling at the end of Documentary. I will be now trying to riase money to help the poor little souls.
Posted by nikita simpson on November 13, 2008 at 7:07 pm
this is mad that this is happenin in this day and age how can these people call themselves chritians they need to go to metal hospitals there all mad i cried the whole way through the documentary it was so sad i hope it stops soon
Posted by Udofia Udo on November 13, 2008 at 7:07 pm
I can rightly say that Gary and the Team has done much to save my community. The documentary … depicts the real scenario in my community and as such, I’m proud of his work. I also thank all those that supported our work in one way or the other. Many thanks to the crew that made the DOCUMENTARY.
Regards,
Udofia
Posted by Greter on November 13, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I was horrified watching this doc. on channel 4. Many thanks to Gary and those other Nigerian guys working with him rescuing these children. I wish if there are any in the Nigerian community could do more and help those children. They need food clothes and mostly they need to be loved. Those kids are traumatised! They need our help. Thank you channel 4. Gery and team may God bless you.
Posted by jesusblogger on November 13, 2008 at 9:16 pm
@Ian “You may be offended by linking it with Pentacostalism, but personally this kind of insanity seems to flow naturally from it. When you encourage hysteria and the suspension of rational thought what do you expect?”
Ian the true pentecostal movement is not driven by emotionalism, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are able within our services to distinguish between those who are just moving by ‘hype’ and playing to emotions verses those who are under the inspiration and leading of God’s Spirit. In fact, when one is filled with the Spirit, or speaking in tongues rational thought is not suspended, you know where you are, you can control yourself – the Bible itself said the spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophet – this means when a person is moving under divine inspiration they can control themselves and think for themselves too.
Posted by bozz on November 13, 2008 at 10:32 pm
This can be aquited with abortions as well.
Murderous thugs are not to inherit the Kingdom of God…
Psalm 133
Posted by Marly on November 13, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Bless you Gary! and all the kind team helping these children. It is very sad. Thank you channel 4 to let us now. Let s raise money to help eradicate these practices. God bless. ‘The perceit of the rightious, shall be delivered’
Posted by Joe Reilly on November 14, 2008 at 5:30 pm
I was horrified when I saw this documentary. I am travelling to Nigeria next month for Christmas and new year and I would be tempted to visit the shelter to say hello and offer help in any way I can. My heart really goes out to the children.
Regarding “Helen Ukpabio is the one exception where I would say that we should re-introduce Paul’s teaching to the Corinthian women who were causing a stir: “I suffer not a woman to teach”.”
I am wondering why was this teaching done away with? I haven’t been able to find any biblical support for women holding roles as pastors/teachers in the church. I don’t bring this up because I have any problem with women. I thank God for women. However, I have to admit it bothers me that this practice has become so prevalent in ministries today when it cannot be backed up biblically or throughout Christian history until the last century and a half, which the church leaders frowned on.
When examining practices among Christians today and the bible is in disagreement with them as well as the majority of church history, what other source can we use to support such practices?
Posted by Lizzie and Leonie on November 14, 2008 at 9:16 pm
after watching the show we was absolutely disgusted and furious toknow that this kind of behaviour is allowed to go on. Helen ukpabio is a complete nutcase who needs to be shot!!! cannot believe what the women is preaching and feel very sorry for the families taking in by this crap. the lives of the poor children has horrified us and we wish we could help every single one of them. this is a situation which everybody should be aware of and should pull together and stop this crazyness.
Posted by stephen on November 15, 2008 at 10:29 pm
I too watched that tv programme and have been so horrified by it that I spent all day trying to find out a bit more. as with everything to do with africa it isn’t as simple as it all looks at first. Helen Ukpabio was educated at a Roman Catholic primary school (St George’s) in Lagos and then got involved in the local witchcraft scene (according to her own bio) so she is a person caught between two worlds. her own hatred for white europeans only adds to the confusing mix. at the bottom of all this is the inability of the catholic and anglican churches (nigeria was a portuguese colony before the British arrived in 1901) to communicate spiritually in a way that was appropriate. since independence in 1960, it seems clear that the nigerians have developed a spiritual mix of christianity and tribal religion all their own. a lethal concoction indeed. the only hope would seem to be better education and brave involvement at a humanitarian level. The policy of ‘leaving them to it’ (as in Zimbabwe) is a complete refusal to accept responsibility for decades of colonial mismanagement and cultural destruction.
Posted by Michael Barrett on November 17, 2008 at 1:26 am
The Kingdom of God is already here.Why are we waiting for it in some far off distant future or land.What we are doing now is what counts.Does anyone see this at all.Satan and hell are merely fabrications,tools to control with fear.Churches are abombinations to the true message of the prophets.This in not about God.This is about Mans warped perception of right and wrong.I dont believe in hell but after watching that documentary I sincerely wish that “She” will rot there untill she sees the error of her ways.
Posted by Yvonne on November 17, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Please don’t conflate the practices of these witch-hunters and child-abusers with paganism.
The people who are torturing and abusing these children are not “pagans” in any sense of the word.
Posted by charlene watt on November 17, 2008 at 3:39 pm
when watching the programme i thought since the contury is in such poverty maybe this is their wicked way of decreasing the population in killing off the children, the poeple that are ordering the daeths by “religion” are well aware of their control and very skilled, how else do you get a mother to believe that her child needs to be killed because he/she is so wicked.
Posted by ij on November 18, 2008 at 7:18 pm
This is not the first time I’ve heard of children accused of witchcraft, but to actually see it in that doc, was heart wrenching and to think that there is a president in that country, a Governor in that state,a Local Government chairman in that Local Government and nothing has been done is absolutely appalling.
Its a pity that people blame everyone else for their misfortune except themselves.
It is a pity that these children are enslaved in their very own land.
It is a pity that the so called BISHOP is allowed to continue to operate in that community , feeding fat off those ignorant idiotic parents of those helpless children, that he is also allowed to expose those children to HIV amongst other illnesses by giving them a mixture that contains his blood.
This man is a criminal and needs to be stopped, he has succeeded in playing on the emotions of those fools and he is conning them out of their little resources and the worse part is that even after their kids have either been killed or exorcised, they still live in squalor.
I pray for the repose of the souls of the faithful departed children who are in better place now and i also pray that all those involved both their parents and those bogus preacher men would never find peace because these children have known no peace at all but strife, pain, isolation, lack, physical, spiritual and mental torture.
Posted by Karin on November 19, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Is there any way to donate money to Gary Foxcroft and his work? May god be with this children
Posted by tk on November 20, 2008 at 2:27 am
i shed a tear. i dont even know wat to say, that end of the wicked film is horrible n i hate when other films use children for such spiritually sensitive roles. its really wrong and see what it has done to the uneducated pple. really really unfair..gees. see how the ukpabio woman was talking, very aggressive and claim to be a christian. at the end of the day GOD! will judge all of them . it is well. mary is so cute, its so unfair that a preacher can just tell their parents that they are witches n they now throw their children away. The governor of that state has work to do. I think this documentary should pls pls pls be shown in nigeria on all the tv stations and i tell u, change and enlightenment will come. it is well
Posted by Kelli on November 20, 2008 at 1:43 pm
There is something you can do to help these innocent children. Watch the documentary and spread awareness, visit my blog Children of Nigeria, sign the petition Stop Liberty Foundation Gospel Ministries of Nigeria from labeling children as witches.
THIS NEEDS TO STOP NOW!!! Do it for the children.
Please read in full before downloading.
I have found a website that you can download Dispatches – Saving Africa’s Witch Children 2008 for free.
Dispatches – Saving Africa’s Witch Children 2008 for free.
To start this P2P download, you have to install a BitTorrent client like µTorrent for free.
or:
Wyzo for free.
Please donate to Stepping Stones Nigeria to help with the Documentary.
~Thank You ~
Posted by emperor on November 24, 2008 at 6:15 pm
I beleave according to the saying of the bible even Jesus Chris himself was accurse of cast out demond using the power of belzebob
so even if you out there will make any comment necatively againse her or the church let me tell you that the will punish you accuring to the bible that curse unto ever man that curse his servant
so am chalenging you now with the name of Jesus that you repent or you die as… Just repent
Posted by jesusblogger on November 24, 2008 at 9:01 pm
@Emperor
You can not curse who God already blessed. So the blood of Jesus against you and your threat!
Posted by Danielle on November 29, 2008 at 3:25 pm
I watched the documentary too. It was very upsetting to see inocent children being brutaly abused, abandoned and even killed in what the profets described as being ‘in the name of God’, which is obviously a total lie. And also that Author lady that was writting books on how to spot if your child is a witch/wizard!! Awful.
Posted by Tuns on November 30, 2008 at 11:11 am
I do not believe in killing people all in the name of deliverance. There’s no place in the bible that supports this. I wish the Gorvenment woud do something about this, and Fast
Posted by ubong c on December 31, 2008 at 4:13 pm
any true christian would know that blessed re those persecuted for christ sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Helen ukpabio is called by GOD.And i tell u dat anyone who tries to tanish her image to dupe money from the masses cant go unpunished.be careful not to be a victim.god bless u all.
Posted by Nkoro on January 9, 2009 at 6:15 pm
“You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free”John 8:32. One day those accussing Helen Ukpabio will come to themselves. I wish there would give their life to Jesus Christ.
Posted by Sarah-UCD on January 27, 2009 at 11:39 pm
I am not going to use up this space saying what a manipulative and downright evil person Helen Pabio is, I will leave that comment for the space on her page and i hope you will agree with me and follow suit. There is power in numbers and with enough responses a change can happen:
info@Helennukpabio.net (actual site)
Gary Foxcroft and the handful of volunteers at C.R.A.R.N are a credit to all of us in this world. They take in adondoned, abused and shunned children in Nigeria giving them food shelter and an education. Those kids are victims of Helen Ukpabio and her brain washing empire. She holds and promotes sermons denouncing innocent kids as young as three months, as witches. Completely insane? Yes, perhaps to us it is, us who live in a country where a witch to us is Ron Weasley, a red haired loveable boy who is clumsily going through the stages of puberty. It is not, however, nonsence to the people of Nigeria and the rest of Africa.
Mothers, Fathers, even their own siblings have disowned them, not only that they have starved, beaten and tortured them in an attempt to force the witch and in some cases ’satan’ out of their souls. A 3cm screw was put through one girls head;she is now brain damaged. One young boy was put on a fire by his father and suffers severs burns. Acid was maliciously thrown on another four year old boy by his older brother; his skin now permanently damaged.
We need to make a stand. Watch Mr Foxcrofts documentary on this.
“African Witch Children”
I am a nineteen year old student so if i can do it so can you: make a stand already!!
Posted by biblethumper on October 19, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Sorry, we couldn’t find helennukpabio.net
Posted by jo on June 15, 2009 at 2:11 pm
different cultures have always had different beliefs/practices. the ‘nazi or humanitarian’ label/s need to evolve, society should be civilised in this day and age. the beliefs in superstition would benefit from a dosage of measurable reality thrown into the equation, a one sided argument is never fair. obviously all beliefs are based on opinion essentially and the questionably vulnerable have always been scapegoated throughout history but communication however powerful will never control inner beliefs, it may damage, distort at times though communication and even tyranny will never break the human spirit and compassion. we are always evolving and simply do not live long enough for anything other than compassion and justice to win through in the end as we are only human.
Posted by Joann Teo on September 9, 2009 at 1:09 am
I am utterly disgusted! This is where I draw the line. To slander Christianity like that when its foundation is built on mercy and grace is utterly unacceptable.
I may not have the resources to donate any money now to support the children in Nigeria. But I am very grateful that this documentary has been made, because if all things it has put an undiminishable fire in my heart as God has done for Hudson Taylor.
Money and support can only progress so far, but if the root of all the problems and these false teachings have no one to preach against, not only will more children continue to live in such horrible circumstances but also the loved ones of these children will never be saved and forever chained to these mindless thinking. I will work with all I have to bring the gospel to all children and their families in Nigeria. I want to make a change and not just sit here and pray about it.
This is what I have to say to those who shame my Father’s name using His Words even dare to show there faces here:
Matthew Chapter 7:15 – 23
“15- ‘Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16- By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn-bushes, or figs from thistles? 17- Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18- A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19- Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 10- Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21- Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of my father who is in heaven. 22- Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?” 23- Then I will tell them plainly, ” I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”
These situations – the Helen Pabio and her supporters – are already vividly described in the bible long ago. How dare you ask others to repent, and using the word of God to judge others when you people do not bear His fruit? What sort of “suffering or persecution” is Helen Pabio having “suffered”? Enjoying fame and money? People like Paul get send to jail.
Have you not read?
Matthew Chapter 18:3-5 “3- And He said: ‘Truly i tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4- Therefore, whoever takes a humble place – becoming like this child – is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5- And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”
How could people as like you call yourselves God’s representatives when you don’t even bear His fruits or know His Words, Love, Mercy and Grace!
All these quotes are only from one book of the Bible and I more where that come from. This just goes to prove that you “disciples” are more like the old days pharisees who twists and slander God’s word with their own interpretation, self-rightouesness and for their own benefit.
But Praise the Lord at the same time, because of it, I have made it my life’s goal to serve God in Nigeria for this very purpose, just as Hudson Taylor served God in China – spread the Gospel and defend it.